India and Pakistan should exercise restraint and conduct dialogue

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Editor's note: Cheng Xizhong is a senior fellow at the Chahar Institute and a former defense attache in South Asian countries. The article reflects the author's opinion, and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

Tension after the Pulwama attack

On Thursday, February 21, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan formally authorized Pakistan's armed forces “to respond decisively and comprehensively to any aggression or misadventure by India”.

This authorization was announced after an extraordinary meeting of the National Security Council.

The meeting mainly reviewed the security situation. Pakistani civil and military leadership has reiterated Islamabad's stance of having nothing to do with the Pulwama attack on February 14, which left 49 Indian paramilitary troops dead in one of the worst attacks in over three decades in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

After the serious attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir, the Pakistani side adopted a cooperative attitude.

Pakistan has strongly condemned the attack. It sincerely offered an investigation of the incident. The Pakistani side also proposed dialogue on the issue of terrorism as well as cooperation with India in combating terrorism.

However, Pakistan's good intentions were flatly rejected by India. India recalled its high commissioner in Pakistan. It accused Pakistan of supporting terrorist activities.

Flames and smoke billows from a residential building where militants had taken refuge during a gun battle in south Kashmir's Pulwama district, February 18, 2019./ VCG Photo

And the Indian leaders said India will “punish the planners" and “India will try all means to isolate Pakistan from the international community".

Furthermore, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given "full freedom" to the use of the Indian military for revenge. It should be noted that this is of a military provocative nature.

Objectively, the tough stance of the Indian government has further stimulated strong anti-Pakistan sentiments in Indian society.

Especially in Indian-controlled Kashmir, Muslims and Hindus have a strong sense of confrontation. The security situation has further deteriorated, and new attacks have taken place, causing more casualties.

Terrorism in the region

At the beginning of this century, the United States launched the war in Afghanistan in retaliation for “September 11” terrorist attacks.

Since then, terrorism became more and more rampant and spread rapidly in the South Asian subcontinent. Now, terrorism and extremism are the top issues of the region and both India and Pakistan are victims.

According to the investigation of an authoritative research institute, more than 70,000 people have died in Pakistan since the war against terrorism at the beginning of this century. Economic losses related to terrorism have reached more than 250 billion U.S. dollars.

In recent years, the Pakistani government has taken a series of strong measures and the Pakistani military and security forces have carried out a series of operations to combat terrorism.

Pakistan Navy's special service group conduct a maritime counter-terrorism demo during Pakistan Navy's Multinational Exercise AMAN-19 in Karachi, Pakistan, February 9, 2019./ VCG Photo

Pakistan's counter-terrorism efforts have yielded remarkable results and the security situation in Pakistan has improved significantly.

Therefore, Pakistan has made an important contribution to peace and stability in the South Asian subcontinent, which should be recognized by the international community.

Solving the ongoing issue

Accusing each other will not solve any problem. The escalating tension between India and Pakistan may lead to an unexpected event in the region.

Military confrontation or even war is not conducive to the fundamental interests of both sides.

Pakistan and India are both important countries in South Asia. The stability of bilateral relations is crucial to regional peace, stability, and development.

Looking back at the past 40 years, in 1978, China's total economic output and per capita GDP were at the same level as India's.

In 1978, China began its economic reform and opening up and India began its focus on economic development in the early 1990s.

At present, India's total economic output and per capita GDP is less than one-fifth of China's. There are many reasons, but one important reason may be that India's relations with its neighboring countries have always been very tense.

In 1999, there was an armed conflict between India and Pakistan in Kargil. In 2001-2002, the relationship between India and Pakistan was unprecedented tense.

With 700,000 Indian troops along the Indian-Pakistani border, war seemed imminent. India should learn a lesson from their recent history.

India and Pakistan should now calm down, exercise restraint and conduct dialogue to solve the outstanding issues.

Terrorism is the common enemy of India and Pakistan. Only by working together in combating terrorism can the security situation in South Asia be improved.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi once said that the issues between India and Pakistan should be solved with hugs.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends the India Korea Business Symposium in Seoul, South Korea, February 21, 2019./VCG Photo

After decades of ups and downs, especially after both joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, India and Pakistan, two major countries in South Asia, should be mature enough.

The two countries should realize the importance of cooperation in economic development and poverty eradication. They should thus make contributions to peace and development in the whole region together.

(Cover Photo: Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan delivering policy statement on Pulwama attack, in Islamabad, Pakistan, February 19, 2019./ VCG Photo)

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